Fire-escape



l(No Model.)

J. s. BOWMAN.

PIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Ju-ne 5, 1888 NA PETERS, Pmzwumognpher. wam-men. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BOWMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,768, dated'J'une 5, 1883.

' Application filed January 31, 1853. (No model.)

ureful improvements in the construction of devices for the purpose of rescuing persons and property from buildings.

It is well known that timid persons cannot be induced to descend a tall vertical ladder; hence for such persons the usual appliances of vertical ladders secured to the side of a building are comparatively useless, and many` other similar appliances for the purpose requiring great nerve to use them have but little popularity.

The object of my invention is to construct a device by means of which the timid as well as those of more nerve can be rescued with but little, if any, danger to themselves, for it is so constructed that if once a person is committed to it it would be almost impossible for an accident to occur by which saidperson could be injured. n Y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows my invention in perspective, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the frame detached.

A represents a strip of canvas of suitable length and width, to the edges of which are secured, in the ordinary manner of securing sails, ropes or cords extending the whole length of both such edges. At suitable distances apart metallic spreaders B are secured to and betweenthese ropes, thereby forming the canvas into a sack with an open front, so that in cross-section the device would be in the shape of the letter U with a cross-bar on top thereof. Between these spreaders safety-ropes C are secured, between and to the side ropes,

to which the edges of the canvas are secured, and it is preferable that the spreaders and V safety-ropes should be at equal and convenient distances apart, as they may at times be employed as a ladder. The top of the open sack thus formed is secured to a jointed iron frame-work, D, the joints being the ordinary rule-joints, adapted to allow this part of the device to be folded in a close place and when opened to form an enlarged entrance into the top of the sack; and the top of the device is designed to be secured by hooks or rods or in any suitable and convenient manner to the window-bench. When thus secured the top framework is open, giving ample room for persons to enter and descend either in the sack itself, easy descent to those using the device, or such the foot thereof being drawn away from the building by those upon the ground to give an persons may descend by using the spreaders and safety-ropes as a ladder, being prevented from falling therefrom by being inclosed in the sack; or, if the descent is nearly vertical, parties may let themselves down hand under hand by means of the spreaders and safetyropes, and slide down the sack. The sack and 7o the ropes are painted with asbestus or other paint which would resist the action of flames bursting out from the lower windows, or the inflammable parts may be so treated as to become non-combustible. i

What I claim as my invention is v The combination, with the sack iof a lire-escape, of a folding frame hinged at the corners and constructed to fit inside the mouth of the sack, and adapted to keep it spread open when 8o in use and to fold iiat to allow the sack to be rolled or folded into a compact space when not in use, substantially as specied.

JOHN s. BowMAN.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, A. I). GAsE. 

